Stormy Daniels' lawyer dabbles in Iowa, says it's no stunt

by CATHERINE LUCEY and THOMAS BEAUMONT , Associated Press

Michael Avenatti, the lawyer representing adult film actress Stormy Daniels, drinks a beer at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. Avenatti’s crusade for the porn actress taking on President Donald Trump has already catapulted him to cable news stardom and endeared him to many frustrated liberals. Now the self-styled "dragon slayer" is taking his message to Iowa Democrats. (Zach Boyden-Holme/The Des Moines Register via AP)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Michael Avenatti, the self-styled provocateur taking on the president on behalf of porn actress Stormy Daniels, has a message for Iowa Democrats: His foray into presidential politics is no stunt.

I am seriously considering it, and I think a lot of it is going to hinge on what direction I think the party is taking and who is likely to get in the race," Avenatti said in an interview ahead of a foray into Iowa this week. He said he's not trying "to get under the president's skin."

As the top 2020 presidential prospects largely steer clear of Iowa, Avenatti toured the State Fair on Thursday. He's set to appear Friday at the Democratic Wing Ding in Clear Lake. Organizers of the fundraiser for county Democratic organizations said they were happy to welcome him to an event that has drawn heavy hitters like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in past years. If anything, they said, he was boosting interest.

"Let's put it this way: Tickets are selling, and we're getting a lot of women buying tickets," said Wing Ding chairman Randy Black, who said Avenatti reached out to say he was considering attending the event and they asked him if he would like to speak.

Avenatti said his visit to the State Fair included a stop at the butter cow — a cow sculpted in butter — two pork chops on a stick and plenty of conversation with people who recognized him and encouraged him to keep going. He strolled the fairgrounds drinking beer from a plastic cup and traded the gray suit for a blue gingham long-sleeved shirt and jeans, the typical dress code of a visiting politician.

He is meeting with Democratic party officials Friday, as well as farmers affected by President Donald Trump's tariffs.

"I've been humbled over the last two days by the reaction that I received," he said.

Novelty candidates are nothing new to politically savvy Iowans. Indeed, Trump — who did not win the Republican caucuses but did win the state in the 2016 general election — was a reality star before he took to the campaign trail. Black said Avenatti could have a similar effect, noting: "You have Trump, who opened up doors for people who never entered a political arena before. Michael Avenatti has done the same thing."

The similarities between Avenatti and his chosen nemesis don't stop there. Like Trump, Avenatti is a brash political outsider with a natural talent for cable television news, a blistering Twitter feed and a knack for a catchy slogan. He turned those tools against Trump as he represents Daniels and a growing list of critical clients.

Whether the trash-talking, sharp-suited, telegenic attorney is the right fit for low-key Iowa in the long run is an open question, as is whether he'd actually want to subject himself to the grind of a campaign. He'll get his first stylistic test in Clear Lake, where Black says he has made clear that "we're not here to bash, we're here to energize the base."

Avenatti, who attended high school in Missouri, got his legal training on the East Coast and built his law practice in Los Angeles, said his remarks would focus on "how as a party we need to fight this fight. And what we need to fight for and who we need to fight for."

But he admitted his appeal was of the bare-knuckle variety, noting, "I'm not cute and cuddly."

Democratic consultant Mary Anne Marsh said Avenatti deserves credit for being able to rile up Trump and Iowa Democrats deserve credit for bringing more attention to the fundraiser.

"The Iowa Democrats are many things. Dumb's not one," she said. "They know how to get attention. They know how to raise money. That doesn't mean Michael Avenatti is on the way to winning the Iowa caucuses."

Avenatti will share the stage Friday with Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, Maryland Rep. John Delaney and businessman Andrew Yang. Many top-tier prospects — including former Vice President Joe Biden and Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York — are avoiding Iowa so far.

Amid his growing profile, Avenatti continues to represent Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. She has said she had sex with Trump in 2006, months after his third wife gave birth to their son, but Trump has denied it. Days before the 2016 presidential election, Daniels was paid $130,000 to stay silent in a deal handled by Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen. She is suing to invalidate the nondisclosure agreement.

But Avenatti's reach has extended. In recent weeks, he has protested Trump in London, accepted an award in Denver and visited children in New York who had been separated from their parents at the U.S. border. He expects to devote more time to Democratic Party events in the coming weeks, with plans to appear in Ohio, Florida and Iowa (again).

So far, Avenatti hasn't taken any other steps toward a run, like hiring staff or raising money, though he says he has heard from consultants. He describes his political philosophy as "a Bill Clinton Democrat who embraces a few fundamental concepts of the progressive left," such as "Medicare for all." And he argues that while he has no background in politics, "I might argue that I'm certainly more well-versed in many concepts of government and the law than our sitting president."

Longtime Iowa Democratic activist Sue Dvorsky said she didn't see a downside in welcoming Avenatti to Iowa.

"The Wing Ding isn't a setup to have deep policy conversations. It's a Wing Ding, for God's sake!" she said. "I think it's going to be fun, it's going to be entertaining and I think he's got something important to say."